So as threatened, I thought I'd start a restoration thread of my V-Raptor and I have to admit I'm gonna be as interested as anyone else to see how it progresses 60k all weather commuting miles take a lot out of a motorcycle....
Good luck, looks like it’s been at the bottom of the sea for a while. I had one of these for a few years, loved it.
Drained the both the fuel and the coolant. It looks like the (plastic) tank has 'expanded' a little as the front bolt holes don't line up. It's a common issue but I reckon not too difficult to resolve. I'll buy a couple of mill off the seat base to allow the tanks mounting cradle to be pushed back a couple of mill. Oh and would you believe it more rust.... all of which I have now covered in ACF50 to hopefully stop it getting worse.
I nearly bought a Raptor Xtra last year cheap but while I was busy asking questions it got snapped up! Gotta love that motor tho!
Ooo... I've reached the heady heights of a featured thread I'm not looking to completely strip him down just yet because a possible house move may be in the offing next year so would like to leave at least a rolling chassis. So thinking aloud what to remove next... carbs/FI, loom, brakes & bodywork. The latter of which could make for a nice winter job prepping for paint.
Removed the right hand side footrest hanger and attendant brake caliper & gubbins. And lo & behold more rust on the frame... The rear brake was always a pain to bleed out and I've only just realised the two threaded holes in the caliper are the same size & pitch so I could have moved the supply to the lower port & the nipple to the upper. Did feel a little smug mind, in thinking to nip off the caliper bolts holding the halves together before removing it from its mounting plate. The last little low speed tumble (when I ran over a number plate in the road) had bent the brake pedal but I can now see it also bent it's pivot bolt.
However I didn't feel the same level of smugness after realising getting the pistons out would be a pain without the proper tool or even if knowing whether they were seized or not... so I reassembled the brake circuit & pumped 'em out.
It's not a Sunday so how can it be bath time... The after photo shows bits & bobs of corrosion on the calipers bodies but the internal faces & piston seal recesses are as clean as. I cleaned up the switch bolt manually with wet & dry and although it hasn't come up shiney shiney I'm still gonna keep & use it. Same with the other bolts as I'm loathed to just buy new stuff and bolt them on.... plus, and call me an old romantic, these guys have had a tough but reliable life so I think they deserve a spruce up and gentle retirement days in the sun.
It's seems I've got a little carried away in my desire to retain/repair as many of the original parts as possible. Years back I'd cut away some styling fins on the left hand side panel to allow fitment of a different reg/rec and then did the same to the right side panel for matching purposes. You can buy replacement carbon fibre panels for £200 but I find them a little too gauche or there are some second hand ones also at £100 each (plus postage from Italy or some such). So I had a go at repairing them - 'good from far & far from good' does spring to mind but I reckon they'll suit the time served weary but smart look I'm aiming for.
Spent a couple of pleasant hours bimbling about removing, labelling & bagging all the bits & pieces that hold the front fairing and assorted gubbins together.
